Homovanillic acid in human cerebrospinal fluid.--Its concentration gradient and reduced levels in patients with epilepsy

The homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined in 38 epileptic and 39 control patients. The mean concentration of HVA was 23.9 ng/ml +/- 2.8 SEM for the epileptic group and 30.2 ng/ml +/- 2.1 SEM for the control group, respectively. Thus, HVA was significandly reduced in the patients with epilepsy compared with the controls. The mean HVA in the female patients was higher than in the male patients in both groups but this failed to reach statistical significance. There was no apparent relationship between the degree of reduced HVA concentration and other clinical indexes of the epilepsy (age, type and frequency of seizures, and anticonvulsant medication). For the determination of concentration gradient of HVA three fractions of the spinal CSF were obtained from 11 patients. A pronounced gradient of HVA concentration was found with a ratio of 1 : 1.46 : 1.97 for the first, second and third fractions. This suggests that a standardized conditions for collecting CSF should be employed to study HVA levels in humans.</p

Effects of Alcohol on Membrane Fluidity of Human Erythrocyte

Membrane fluidity in human erythrocytes was measured by a spin label method using an electron spin resonance spectrometer in healthy volunteers after ingestion of alcohol (1.5 ml of whisky/kg body weight). Fluidity in the lipid bilayer closer to the hydrophilic face decreased at 30 min and 90 min, and fluidity in the hydrophobic core decreased at 90 min after ingestion of alcohol. In the same experiment, the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the serum decreased 30 min after ingestion of alcohol, and the triglyceride level increased and free fatty acid level decreased, and serum superoxide dismutase activity increased 150 min after ingestion. Furthermore, membrane fluidity in human erythrocytes was examined in patients with alcohol dependence syndrome who had not any alcohol for about 26 months. Erythrocyte membrane fluidity of patients with alcohol dependence syndrome was not different from that of healthy controls. However, erythrocyte membrane fluidity of the lipid bilayer closer to the hydrophilic face increased in patients who had concomitant liver cirrhosis compared with those who did not. These results suggest that alcohol affects temporal change of membrane fluidity in human erythrocytes.</p

Contribution of Intragenic DNA Methylation in Mouse Gametic DNA Methylomes to Establish Oocyte-Specific Heritable Marks

Genome-wide dynamic changes in DNA methylation are indispensable for germline development and genomic imprinting in mammals. Here, we report single-base resolution DNA methylome and transcriptome maps of mouse germ cells, generated using whole-genome shotgun bisulfite sequencing and cDNA sequencing (mRNA-seq). Oocyte genomes showed a significant positive correlation between mRNA transcript levels and methylation of the transcribed region. Sperm genomes had nearly complete coverage of methylation, except in the CpG-rich regions, and showed a significant negative correlation between gene expression and promoter methylation. Thus, these methylome maps revealed that oocytes and sperms are widely different in the extent and distribution of DNA methylation. Furthermore, a comparison of oocyte and sperm methylomes identified more than 1,600 CpG islands differentially methylated in oocytes and sperm (germline differentially methylated regions, gDMRs), in addition to the known imprinting control regions (ICRs). About half of these differentially methylated DNA sequences appear to be at least partially resistant to the global DNA demethylation that occurs during preimplantation development. In the absence of Dnmt3L, neither methylation of most oocyte-methylated gDMRs nor intragenic methylation was observed. There was also genome-wide hypomethylation, and partial methylation at particular retrotransposons, while maintaining global gene expression, in oocytes. Along with the identification of the many Dnmt3L-dependent gDMRs at intragenic regions, the present results suggest that oocyte methylation can be divided into 2 types: Dnmt3L-dependent methylation, which is required for maternal methylation imprinting, and Dnmt3L-independent methylation, which might be essential for endogenous retroviral DNA silencing. The present data provide entirely new perspectives on the evaluation of epigenetic markers in germline cells

Platelet monoamine oxidase activity in schizophrenics -Kinetic aspects-

The present study was undertaken to study the relationship between changes in platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and schizophrenia. In addition, some biochemical characteristics of human platelet MAO were examined. The results are as follows; 1) There was no evidence to suggest that differences in methods used in the determination of platelet MAO activity caused the conflicting results in the literature. 2) It was confirmed from a kinetic study that MAO reaction in platelets proceeded via a ping-pong mechanism as previously reported in brain and liver. 3) The frequency distribution for the Michaelis constant (Km) and maximal velocity (Vmax) in apparently healthy subjects exhibited a skewed unimodal pattern. The mean of the Vmax value for females was significantly higher than the corresponding value for males. 4) Platelet MAO activity was determined in 8 schizophrenics and non-schizophrenic members from a North-Swedish pedigree with a high frequency of schizophrenia. There were no statistically significant differeneces in apparent Km and Vmax values between schizophrenics and their non-schizophrenic relatives, although a tendency to lowered Vmax and increased Km values was observed among the schizophrenic subjects. 5) MAO activity was assayed in platelets from 22 (8 monozygotic and 14 dizygotic) twin pairs. At least one twin (proband) of each pair suffered from serious psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. The correlation between proband and control twins was high for both apparent Km and Vmax. No differences in kinetic properties were found between schizophrenic and non-schizophrenic twins. The monozygotic twin pairs showed very high correlations (Km; r=0.93, Vmax; r=0.86) as compared to dizygotic twins (Km; r=0.81, Vmax; r=0.50) and apparently healthy subjects (Km; r=0.46, Vmax; r=0.33)

Acta Medica Okayama Homovanillic acid in human cerebrospinal fluid.-Its concentration gradient and reduced levels in patients with epilepsy Homovanillic acid in human cerebrospinal fluid.-Its concentration gradient and reduced levels in patients with epil

Abstract The homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined in 38 epileptic and 39 control patients. The mean concentration of HVA was 23.9 ng/ml +/-2.8 SEM for the epileptic group and 30.2 ng/ml +/-2.1 SEM for the control group, respectively. Thus, HVA was significandly reduced in the patients with epilepsy compared with the controls. The mean HVA in the female patients was higher than in the male patients in both groups but this failed to reach statistical significance. There was no apparent relationship between the degree of reduced HVA concentration and other clinical indexes of the epilepsy (age, type and frequency of seizures, and anticonvulsant medication). For the determination of concentration gradient of HVA three fractions of the spinal CSF were obtained from 11 patients. A pronounced gradient of HVA concentration was found with a ratio of 1 : 1.46 : 1.97 for the first, second and third fractions. This suggests that a standardized conditions for collecting CSF should be employed to study HVA levels in humans. Abstract. The homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined in 38 epileptic and 39 control patients. The mean concentration of HVA was 23.9 ngjml ± 2.8 SEM for the epileptic group and 30.2 ngjml ± 2.1 SEM for the control group, respectively. Thus, HVA was significantly reduced in the patients with epilepsy compared with the controls. The mean HVA in the female patients was higher than in the male patients in both groups but this failed to reach statistical significance. There was no apparent relationship between the degree of reduced HVA concentration and other clinical indexes of the epilepsy (age, type and fTequency of seizures, and anticonvulsant medication). For the determination of concentration gradient of HVA three fractions of the spinal CSF were obtained from 11 patients. A pronounced gradient of HVA concentration was found with a ratio of 1: 1.46: 1.97 for the first, second and third fractions. This suggests that a standardized conditions for collecting CSF should be employed to study HVA levels in humans. KEYWORD

A Simple Method for Differentiating Complicated Parapneumonic Effusion/Empyema from Parapneumonic Effusion Using the Split Pleura Sign and the Amount of Pleural Effusion on Thoracic CT.

BackgroundPleural separation, the "split pleura" sign, has been reported in patients with empyema. However, the diagnostic yield of the split pleura sign for complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE)/empyema and its utility for differentiating CPPE/empyema from parapneumonic effusion (PPE) remains unclear. This differentiation is important because CPPE/empyema patients need thoracic drainage. In this regard, the aim of this study was to develop a simple method to distinguish CPPE/empyema from PPE using computed tomography (CT) focusing on the split pleura sign, fluid attenuation values (HU: Hounsfield units), and amount of fluid collection measured on thoracic CT prior to diagnostic thoracentesis.MethodsA total of 83 consecutive patients who underwent chest CT and were diagnosed with CPPE (n=18)/empyema (n=18) or PPE (n=47) based on the diagnostic thoracentesis were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsOn univariate analysis, the split pleura sign (odds ratio (OR), 12.1; p&lt;0.001), total amount of pleural effusion (≥30 mm) (OR, 6.13; p&lt;0.001), HU value≥10 (OR, 5.94; p=0.001), and the presence of septum (OR, 6.43; p=0.018), atelectasis (OR, 6.83; p=0.002), or air (OR, 9.90; p=0.002) in pleural fluid were significantly higher in the CPPE/empyema group than in the PPE group. On multivariate analysis, only the split pleura sign (hazard ratio (HR), 6.70; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-23.5; p=0.003) and total amount of pleural effusion (≥30 mm) on thoracic CT (HR, 7.48; 95%CI, 1.76-31.8; p=0.006) were risk factors for empyema. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the presence of both split pleura sign and total amount of pleural effusion (≥30 mm) on thoracic CT for CPPE/empyema were 79.4%, 80.9%, 75%, and 84.4%, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.801 on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.ConclusionThis study showed a high diagnostic yield of the split pleura sign and total amount of pleural fluid (≥30 mm) on thoracic CT that is useful and simple for discriminating between CPPE/empyema and PPE prior to diagnostic thoracentesis

A Simple Method for Differentiating Complicated Parapneumonic Effusion/Empyema from Parapneumonic Effusion Using the Split Pleura Sign and the Amount of Pleural Effusion on Thoracic CT.

BackgroundPleural separation, the "split pleura" sign, has been reported in patients with empyema. However, the diagnostic yield of the split pleura sign for complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE)/empyema and its utility for differentiating CPPE/empyema from parapneumonic effusion (PPE) remains unclear. This differentiation is important because CPPE/empyema patients need thoracic drainage. In this regard, the aim of this study was to develop a simple method to distinguish CPPE/empyema from PPE using computed tomography (CT) focusing on the split pleura sign, fluid attenuation values (HU: Hounsfield units), and amount of fluid collection measured on thoracic CT prior to diagnostic thoracentesis.MethodsA total of 83 consecutive patients who underwent chest CT and were diagnosed with CPPE (n=18)/empyema (n=18) or PPE (n=47) based on the diagnostic thoracentesis were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsOn univariate analysis, the split pleura sign (odds ratio (OR), 12.1; p&lt;0.001), total amount of pleural effusion (≥30 mm) (OR, 6.13; p&lt;0.001), HU value≥10 (OR, 5.94; p=0.001), and the presence of septum (OR, 6.43; p=0.018), atelectasis (OR, 6.83; p=0.002), or air (OR, 9.90; p=0.002) in pleural fluid were significantly higher in the CPPE/empyema group than in the PPE group. On multivariate analysis, only the split pleura sign (hazard ratio (HR), 6.70; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-23.5; p=0.003) and total amount of pleural effusion (≥30 mm) on thoracic CT (HR, 7.48; 95%CI, 1.76-31.8; p=0.006) were risk factors for empyema. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the presence of both split pleura sign and total amount of pleural effusion (≥30 mm) on thoracic CT for CPPE/empyema were 79.4%, 80.9%, 75%, and 84.4%, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.801 on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.ConclusionThis study showed a high diagnostic yield of the split pleura sign and total amount of pleural fluid (≥30 mm) on thoracic CT that is useful and simple for discriminating between CPPE/empyema and PPE prior to diagnostic thoracentesis